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Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Driver, arrested for traffic offence, crushes LASTMA official

A taxi driver, Sunday Agbariko, has crushed an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, identified as Olayemi Isiaka.

Agbariko crushed Isiaka’s leg on Monday at the Ojota yard of the agency while attempting to escape with his car that had been impounded.

According to reports the suspect, who is also a security guard with a ministry, Mama Prayer Mountain International, had been arrested for reckless driving while his vehicle was impounded.

He was said to have asked one of the officials to give him his car key, saying he wanted to take some vital documents.

He was reported to have immediately sped out during which he hit Isiaka, who was standing at the gate.

An official of LASTMA, who spoke with our correspondent, said the incident caught everyone unawares.

He said, “The driver was arrested on Monday morning for reckless driving. His cab, a Nissan Primera, was impounded.

“The taxi driver pretended to be compliant and followed the traffic official to the yard. He demanded his car key, saying he wanted to remove vital documents. He entered the car, turned on the ignition, and in a dangerous attempt to escape, crushed the LASTMA official.”

The spokesperson for LASTMA, Mr. Mahmud Hassan, confirmed the incident, adding that the suspect had been handed over to the Area F Police Command for further investigation and prosecution.

Hassan said the victim, who was seriously injured, was rushed to the Emergency Ward of the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Bashir Braimah, during a visit to the victim, condemned the action of the taxi driver, whom he said would face the full wrath of the law.

“LASTMA will not be intimidated by anybody, and we will not shy away from performing the task of maintaining law and order on Lagos roads. LASTMA will always employ the instrumentality of the law to deal with any member of the society who attacks any traffic officer on duty,” the traffic boss said.